Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)

I am delighted to have an opportunity to speak on this important issue. It is difficult to believe it is almost 20 years since the legislation pertaining to the habitats directive, as contained in a previous treaty, was passed in 1992. At the time the former Taoiseach, Mr. Albert Reynolds, was in government and came home with €8 billion. What we are dealing with was part of the small print that was not examined and ignored for many years. No more than the water directive and the septic tank legislation, we are dealing with something that has been in place for a long time and we are trying to have the matter sorted.

I commend the Government for its work on this difficult issue for many months. It established the Peatlands Council within the National Parks and Wildlife Service. I also welcome its proposal to commend the Turf Cutters and Contractors Association, TTCA, for its positive publication on dealing with the various issues surrounding SACs and natural habitat areas.

There is predominantly blanket bog in Galway West, but the position on two small bogs has been raised with the TTCA. One is to be found in Addergoole, near Annaghdown, and the TTCA indicates that there is no other bog in the area to which people could relocate. The second is Monivea bog, near Athenry, which has been allocated objective one status and on which a large number of people depend solely for their fuel. Another bog has been designated as a natural heritage area. Approximately 50% of the 150 acres is raised bog. The bog is available for sale and will cater for 80 to 90 turf owners. The proposals are imaginative. I hope the Minister, together with his officials in the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Peatlands Council, can provide solutions in these cases. Yesterday Deputy Paul Connaughton outlined, in the case of the bog near Mountbellew, how things could be sorted out through negotiation and consensus and by acknowledging the important role turf cutters had to play in any solution.

We welcomed Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan to a meeting I attended in Rossaveal in the autumn. A large crowd expressed concerns about blanket bogs. The problem arose predominantly during the summer of 2011 when special protection areas, SPAs, were designated in parts of Connemara. Some believed what had happened on raised bogs in east Galway would happen on blanket bogs in Connemara and that the SPA designation was part of this process. As I pointed out at the time, the SPA designation affords no greater protection than SAC designation in terms of turf cutting. I undertook to set up a meeting which the Minister attended. Mr. Conor Ó Raghallaigh from the National Parks and Wildlife Service answered questions from the delegation which consisted of a cross-section of individuals from Connemara on special areas of conservation and blanket bogs. The responses were made available to all Oireachtas Members in Galway West and the local committees. People were happy with the responses received. While there is a need to revisit how turf cutting activities are regulated, this can best be done in consultation with turf cutters.

Turf cutting will continue in the case of blanket bog SACs, but we must undertake surveys of turf cutting within the SACs and map the areas most sensitive to the potential impacts of turf cutting. This approach will be undertaken while engaging with stakeholders to agree a conservation management approach for sites which should provide clarity for all parties on how turf cutting will proceed. The western end of the Connemara bog complex is likely to be included in a pilot area in teasing out the best approach for us to adopt. We will seek to engage with representatives of turf cutters and other interested parties during 2012 to arrive at the best approach for all involved.

There is a general acceptance in Connemara that there is a need to protect SACs and provide management plans for them. There is consensus among turf cutters on the Minister's approach. As long as the owners who cut turf are consulted by the Minister's office, in consultation with the National Parks and Wildlife Service, they will be happy that their concerns are being taken on board. I welcome the Government's approach.

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